Shoe pressing machine



Nov. 20, 1951 c. K. WOODMAN SHOE PRESSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 1 Filed June 16, 1949 Nov. 20, 1951 c. K. WOODMAN SHOE PRESSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 2 Filed June 16, 1949 llllllllllllllllllllllllllllllll Ill In ven for Ch arZesK \Mwdman Nov. 20, 1951 c. K. WOODMAN SHOE PRESSING MACHINE 6 Sheets-Sheet 3 Filed June 16, 1949 Inventor Y Charles KWoodman Nov. 20, 1951 c. K. WOODMAN 2,575,436

SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 5 Nov. 20, 1951 c. K. wooDMAN 2,575,436

SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Filed June 16, 1949 6 Sheets-Sheet 6 Inventor Ch ar'Zes [CWwdmcm H By hi Attorney Patented Nov. 20, 1951 2,575,436 SHOE PRESSING MACHINE Charles K. Woodman, Beverly, Mass., assignor to United Shoe Machinery Corporation, Flemington, N. J., a corporation of New Jersey Application June 16, 1949, Serial No. 99,391

12 Claims.

This invention relates to machines for applying pressure to a lasted shoe to shape or conform the toe portion of the upper to the last and, more particularly, to a machine which may be employed in sequence with the usual toe or bed lasting operation to clamp and hold the upper materials, after they have been lasted, against the feather and rib of a welt type insole positioned on the last.

In the manufacture of welt shoes, the usual method of properly shaping the toe end of a pulled-over upper is first to subject it to the action of heat and vapor to condition the materials so that they may be readily worked. The shoe is then placed in a toe lasting machine where a set of wipers conform the upper, at the toe, to the contours of the last and work the upper materials in over the feather and against the upstanding rib of the insole. Next, it is necessary, in some way, to hold these materials in this desired shape until they have acquired a permanent set so that there is no longer any tendency for them to pull away from the insole rib, or to loosen up about the toe end of the last. While this may be done by the continued application of pressure in the toe lasting machine, the minimum time dwell for the upper to dry suificiently, so as to inherently maintain its lasted position, is so long, possibly in the neighborhood of three to five minutes depending upon the characteristics of the materials and their vapor content, as to prohibit such practice. It has, therefore, been customary to apply a binding wire to the upper materials, before they are released from the lasting machine, in order that, after removal of the shoe, the materials will be maintained in the desired shape until stitched in position by the subsequent operation of the inseam machine. The operation of anchoring the binding Wire about the toe portion with two upstanding tacks driven one on each side and just back of the tip line consumes considerable time during which the machine must remain idle. In addition, after the upper has set, further time and labor must be expended in removing this temporary binding wire which, if not removed before the inseaming operation, might damage the needle and cause consequential delay. In order to avoid the extra time and labor involved in. this procedure, and also to expedite the lasting operation by making the toe lasting machine immediately available after a shoe has been lasted, it has been proposed in accordance with a novel method disclosed and claimed in United States Letters Patent No. 2,373,- 264, issued on April 10, 1945, in the name of 2 Arthur L. Russell, to provide an auxiliary pressing apparatus to which the shoe may be transferred fromthe toe lasting machine.

Accordingly it is a primary object of this invention to provide a novel and improved auxiliary pressing machine, the employment of which will permit the removal of a shoe from a lasting machine as soon as the toe portion has been conformed into lasted position, and which will obviate the installation and removal of any temporary toe binding attachment. To this end my novel machine is designed and particularly adapted for use in advantageously carrying out the method of lasting shoes as described and claimed in the aforementioned patent.

A further object of the invention is to provide an auxiliary pressing machine, adapted to be positioned in proximity with the usual toe lasting machine, and having novel means for applying heat and pressure to the upper materials, around the toe of a shoe, which have previously been lasted so as to hold the upper materials in the desired shape and relationship until they assume an inherent set in the lasted position. More particularly, the pressing means comprises an articulated wiper, or wiper-presser, which is arranged to embrace the toe end of a lasted shoe in such a Way as to clamp the lasting margin of the upper materials to the feather and rib of an insole in lasted position. Preferably, this Wiper-presser is heated to facilitate the setting of the upper materials into lasted position.

Another object of the invention is to provide novel mechanism for operating the machine with as little as possible expenditure of effort and care on the part of the operator. To this end the machine is provided with a novel arrangement of levers and shifting fulcra whereby an operator, by the continued movement of a single control member, may first rapidly and accurately position the shoe, relatively to the wiper-presser, then clamp the wiper-presser about the upper materials at the toe end of the shoe and press them firmly against the insole rib, and finally, force the shoe heightwise against the wiper-presser to press the upper materials against the feather of the insole.

The above and other objects and features of the invention will be more readily understood from the following detailed description, when considered in connection with the accompanying drawings, and will be pointed out in the appended claims.

In the drawings,

Fig. l is a view in side elevation of a machine embodying the features of this invention;

Fig. 2 is a view in front elevation of the machine shown in Fig. 1, partly broken away and on an enlarged scale, showing the pressing, heating and toe support elements;

Fig. 3 is a top plan View of the machine, partly broken away, showing the position of the pressing member when a shoe is first presented to the machine;

Fig. 4 is a view of the pressing member partly in horizontal section taken on the line IVI-V of Fig. 2, and viewed in the direction of the-arrows;

Fig. 5 is a horizontal View showing further details of the pressing mechanism;

Fig. 6 is a side view of'the machine partly broken away and in vertical section taken on the line VI-VI of Fig. 2 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 7 is a fragmentary rear elevation view showing a detail of Fig. 6;

Fig. 8 is a vertical section similar to that of Fig. 6, but showing the relative position of parts. during a subsequent phase of operation;

Fig. 9 is a vertical section View of a, detail taken on the line IXIX of Fig. 8 and looking in the direction of the arrows;

Fig. 10 is a perspective viewshowing certain elements of the machine;

Fig. 11 is a top plan view of the machine partly broken away showing the position of the pressing mechanism after clamping a shoe;

Fig. 12 is a view similar to that of Fig. 8, but showing the position of respective parts during another phase of operation which corresponds to the phase shown in Fig. 11; and

Fig. 13 is an enlarged fragmentary view drawn in perspective to show a detail of Fig. 2.

In order to better understand the invention and drawings, a brief description will first be given of the principal parts of the machine with respect to their modes of operation. These parts comprise a set of horizontally curved articulated wiper-pressers, shown in detail by Fig. 4 and designated in general as W, for pressing and clamping the lasting margin of an upper againstthe feather and rib of an insole; a vertical yieldable, holddown 98 engageable with the insole to position the shoe for the pressing operation; a vertically movable toe support 84 for jacking the shoe and securely clamping it first against the holddown and then against the wiper-pressers; and an arrangement of levers and linkages, all controlled by a. single treadle 26, for progressively and alternately actuating the toe support and wiper-pressers during the various operational phases of the machine.

Before any downward pressure is applied to the treadle, the position of the variouselements is depicted by Fig. 6, and may be termed the idle phase, during which the toe support and hold. down are both in their lowermost positions, and the pressing elements are withdrawn with their articulated jaws opened to the full extent for receiving a shoe. Prior to operating the machine, ashoe will be removed from an adjacent lasting machine and will be immediatelyv placed by the operator with the insole positioned upwardly in contact with the holddown.

To commence the second phase, depicted by Fig.8, which may be termedthe quick take-up jacking operation, the treadle is partially de-' pressed to elevate the toe support rapidly until itpresses against the shoe S, as shown in- Fig. 12,

4 with sufiicient force to maintain the insole I against the holddown 90. Up to this point the heated pressing elements, restrained by a series of springs, have remained in their idle position.

A further depressing of the treadle commences the third or wiping phase during which the shoe remainsstationary between the holddown and toe support while the wiper-pressers slide horizontally forward until they abut the toe point of the shoe; then the articulated jaws commence closing to wipe and press the upper materials, as shown in Fig. 11, against the feather and rib of the insole..

7 When the maximum efiective pressure has been applied, for thus clenching the heated presser members inwards against the upper material, the final phase of operation is commenced, during which the remaining downward movement of the treadle transmits a force through a powerful leverage to drive the toe support, shoe and yieldable holddown still higher sothat the. lasting'margin is forcefully clampedupwards against the bottom edges of .the heated pressing member.

Throughout the various phases of operation the progressive downward movement of. the treadle is held locked against recession, so. that the full pressure applied to the shoe. may be maintained as long as desirable. When the upper materials have set sufficiently, the shoe is released by pressing a release .t'readle 28 which allows the various partsof. the machine. to return to their idle position.

The detailed construction and operation of the machine will now be described, first with particular reference to the relationship of parts during the idle position as shown in Figs. 1 through 7. The framework, to which theparts are attached, comprises a hollow pedestal portion 20 extending upwardly from the floor to support a headhousing 22 within the forward part of which are contained the holddownsil, the toe support 84 with its jacking assembly, and the articulated.wiper-pressers which are movably supported within the housing upon apair.

of brackets 23; Figs. 2 and 13., each provided with guide grooves Il2.for receiving aportion of the presser assembly. A. stud .241 extendinghorizontally from the base ofthe pedestal. providesa pivotal mounting for. both. they treadle 231 for applying pressure to the shoe and. a. release treadle 28 for tripping a locking. mechanism to permit all, partstobe returned to their idle. position by the combined force of a series. of biasing springs, the locations and functions of which.

will bepointedout in detail lateron. A-- pull.

rod 38' pivotallyconnected at oneend to .the-

Each pawl is mounted'at its lower end upon av pivot pin 4'4 passing transversely through the casing 34 andrunningoutwardly through vertical guide slots formed through two'ears 46' extending rearwardly from the pedestal. Two springs 48, attached at their upper ends to the framework and at their-lower ends to the extremities of the pin 44 resiliently urge the-cas 5 ing and control rod 36 upwards. Two springs 50, each attachedto one of the pawls, normally urge them forwardly and into engagement with the ratchet rack 42. The lower end of the pawl 40 is provided with a bell crank arm 52 to which is attached a pull rod 54 connecting with the release treadle 28 so that when this treadle is pressed downwardly the pawl 49 is pivoted rearwardly out of engagement with the teeth 42.

The pawl 38, while not connected directly withthe release mechanism, is also carried rearwardly by a transverse stud 56 alfixed thereto and extending behind and adjacent the pawl 46 and through guide slots in the sides of the easing 34.

The upper extremity of the control rod 36 is forked to straddle a horizontal control lever 58 to which it is medially linked by a pivot pin 60.

The rear arm of the lever 58 is in turn con-' the force of two springs 14 tending to draw the' outward ends of the arms I and 72 together and to hold the rod 64 and pivot 62 in an elevated position. The forward'arm of the lever 58 is linked to a vertical tie rod 16 by a pivot I8 which is slidably positioned on the frame by the vertical guide slots 80. A downward movement of the control rod 36 will transmit through the lever 58 concomitant downward forces on the tie rods 54 and 76. However, the above-described restraining force of the springs 65 and '34 will at first be sufficient to overcome the downward pull on the rod 64, causing a fulcrum for the lever 58 to be established at the pivot 62, so that the toe support jacking mechanism will be actuated by the resultant downward movement of the tie rod I6 connected by a-pin "I"! to one end of the variable leverage bars 82 which act as a jacking lever.

The toe support 84, its thrust rod 86 and a flexible hinge linkage 88 (Figs. 2 and 10) are progressively actuated by the jacking lever 82 which alternately pivots upon two fulcra. The initial downward movement of the pin 'il commences the quick take-up jacking phase (Figs. 8, 9 and 10) during which there is little resistance to' the upward travel of the toe support and a short arm leverage issumcient to rapidly clamp the shoe in contact with the holddown 90. A fulcrum rod assembly 92 is resiliently W supported against downward movement by a loaded compression spring 94 the force of which may be adjusted by a hand nut 95 threaded to the rod 92 within a barrel 98 which in turn is upwardly supported upon the framework by .two laterally extending trunnions Ills providing for angular adjustment of the fulcrum rod 92. As the treadle depresses the point TI the forward end of the lever 82 moves upward raising both the toe support and an auxiliary fulcrum rod I82 whose downward recession is prevented by a detent pawl I04 held by a spring I05 into engagement with a rack of transverse ratchet teeth I08 formed on the rod I532. The mechanism controlling the engagement and disengagement of this pawl with the auxiliary fulcrum is selectively operated by the movement ofthe vertical tie rod 16 as will be explained later. When the shoe insole I (Fig. 12) is clamped upwardly against the holddown 90, which is held down by a heavy compression spring II2, resistance to further movement of the jacking mechanism is sufficient to overcome the combined force of the springs which up to this point have acted to restrain the operation of the wiping and pressing mechanism. Now the control lever 58 commences to fulcrum on the pivot I8 drawing the tie rod 64 downwardly thereby spreading the toggle arms I0 and I2 to initiate the wiping phase of operation.

Since the foot of the arm I0 is fastened by a pin IIB to a relatively fixed slide II8 horizontally positioned on the framework by an adjustment nut I20, the resultant horizontal movement of the spreading arms will be confined to the forward advance of a slide II4 attached to the foot of the arm I2 by a pin I22.

As hereinafter explained in detail, it is this movement of the slide H4 which activates the wiper-presser assembly, first to move it bodily forward into contact with the materials of the lasting margin, and then to cause the articulated jaws to move inwardly over the feather to wipe the materials and press them inward against the insole rib.

Referring now to the illustrated construction of the toe wiping and pressing assembly, and viewing more particularly Figs. 2 through 5, it will be seen that the unit which operatively contacts the lasting margin is a flexible U-shaped band comprised of several variously shaped rigid blocks, each arranged in series formation, and held in close articulated association with adjacent blocks of the series so that by their relative movement the band may readily accommodate itself to the shape and position of the toe portion of the last to automatically and uniformly conform to the size and swing of said toe portion. Each block is strung on a tightly coiled spring I24 through the core of which passes a wire cable I26 the two ends of which are secured by stop collars I28. The central block I38 is substantially in the form of a circular disk having a rearwardly extending boss I34 and a diametrically opposite small concaved edge portion I36 engageable with the tip point of a shoe. This block is pivotally anchored to the assembly by a pin I32 extending vertically from the top and bottom of the block. On either side of this central block are a number of crescentshaped blocks I38, the jointed curved faces of which permit articular movement while remaining in engagement with one another. It is to be noted that the bore, of the passageway through the central blocks, is flared outwardly to prevent the spring and cable core from restricting said articular movement. The flexible U-shaped series terminates at both ends in elongated curved end blocks I 40 provided with an insert sleeve I42 abutting against the stop collars I28 for adjusting the tension of the cable. Each end block I40 has an outwardly extendin ear I 44- pivotally connected to the forward end of thrust arms I 46 which in turn are attached at their rearward extremities, by pivots I48, to a crosspiece I59 secured transversely to the forward end of the slide II I. The articulated series of blocks is confined against heightwise displacement by two pairs of curved rigid arm plates I52, centrally anchored together and to the assembly in hinged relationship by the pin I32, forming two sets of U-shaped supports, one above and the other below the blocks and each substantially co-extensive with and contiguously adjacent to the series of jointed'cblocks. The adjacent forwardiends of. the plates I52 are slidably linked to amend block It'll by a pin I54 set in the block and extending through slots I58 formedzin the plates. Thus the arm plates maintain a guiding contact above and below the blocks without impairing the horizontal movement necessary to operatively positionthe several blocks.

The crosspiece I50 is provided with two. pins I58. each. extending forwardly through helical. I 88 which: form" yieldable:

an upper carrier plate I58 and a lower plate I88. These carrier plates are. secured together in spaced apart relation toone another. by screws:

I18, and are pivotally secured to the central block I38 and guide plates I52 by'the. vertical pin I32, so that'the entire pressing assembly is movable together lengthwise of the shoe, and is supported inthe head housing 22 by the lateral edges of the upper plate l66 sliding. along longi tudinal guideways pieces 23 afiixed to the framework .(Figs. 12 and 13).

The wiper-presser' assembly is. heated by a thermostatically controlled electric unit IE3, at tached to the underside of the carrier plate-i 68; having a heat control element W4 anda heater I'IB both joined by conduits to aregulator outlet box I".

When the slide H4 andcrosspiece I58 are first actuated by the foot treadle, the wiper-presser assembly is moved forwardbodily both by the thrust arms I58, and bythe thrust springs 58 acting upon the yoke 52 until theicentralblock I38, carrying the pin I32; strikes. the point; of

the toe. When this block I30 is thus prevented by the shoe from continuing forward,". the pin I32 acts as an anchor or stationary pivot for all the elements connectedthereto. Since all direct bodily forward movement has thus been arrested, the continued forward pressure applied upon the thrust arms I46 by the crosspiecelid tensions and forces. the. articulated series of blocks inward widthwise of theshoe, Fig. 11. During this final movement of the-articulated The U -shaped series of blocks and: their guide. plates I52 are sandwiched between.

I12 formed:v in the bracket blocks, the fingers Ifi i'are forced with increasing pressure, exerted by the yieldablethrust springs I88, against the centralblocks to causethem to draw the lasting margin tightly over the featherline and press it forcefully up' againstthe insole rib.

It is to be noted that the. peripheral'edges'of the holddown member 98 arepreferably so designed that when the shoe isplaced thereagai'nst' by the operator the holddown willfit within and contiguously adjacent to the inner wall of the rib forming a rigid lateral support to prevent any extreme pressures from crushing the rib inwaurds beyond its proper position on the insole.- Thus when the entire toe portion of the lasting margin. has been firmly clenched inwards against the:

nonyielding rib, further actuation of the .presser assembly is precluded.

Now. as the treadlee28 continuesto-exert in*- creasing downwardapull upon the lever 58, aforce-- of great magnitude is applied upwardly upon the thrust rod- 85103 the jacking lever 82 which is now pivoting on the auxiliary. fulcrum rodIDZ producing a far-greater.mechanicaladvantage than-was previously obtainablew-ith the fulcrum. rod 92;

Thisforce, transmitted. upwards by the insole I to the holddown 98,-.issufiicient to overcome'the resistance of the spring :I I2 which now yieldswith theholddown to permit the shoe'fto be forcefully jacked upwardsand clamped-by the: toe support, so that the lasting margin is. jammed upwards against the-heated pressing-member to form a well defined edge about the toe portion of the shoe.

Thedetent-assembly, Fig. 7, on the foot of the control .rod 36 enables thepressure upon the toe portion to be maintained as long as desirable;

When'the upper materialshave attained an in-- herent set the operator may. release the shoe by pressing the release treadle 28. This trips the pawls 38 and Ml toallow the series of biasing springs to return the operative parts of the-ma chine to their idle positions. First, the rods 36' and are elevated by the springs and 65 relieving the downward tension upon the tie rod. 64 so that the cross bar. I50 may be retracted by the springs 14. Now the presser assembly, thus relieved of all forward thrust, is withdrawn'from' the shoe by a pull rod. I80 whichis' urged rearwards by a compression spring I18. As the 0011-" trol rod-38returns to its idle position, the lever 58 draws the tie rod'Ifi-upwards to elevate'the rearward end of the leverage bars 82 and commence lowering the toe support thrust rod 86.

During the ascent of the tie rod 18a detenttrippingpin I84-laterally affixed to the rod, engages with and elevates the rear arm of a lever. I86 which is pivotally attached to the framework. by a fixed pin I 82 and movably linked at its forward end to a bell crank arm I88. The resultant downward swing ofthe arm I88 extends the detent spring I86 and moves the pawl .I 04 out of engage-1 ment with the auxiliary fulcrum rodl92, so that the toe supportand'jack-ing mechanism may return to the idle position. It-is to be noted (Fig. 10) that the detent tripping. pin-I84 is vertically adjustable upon the tiered 1'6, so that the paWPsengagement :with' the fulcrum rod I02: may be timed in-relation to. thedownward extent of. the:

operating tread1e-25.

While the foregoing operational description of this novel pressing. machine has pertained to its employment for pressing; the toe of a welt shoe it is" to beunderstood that the inventionand. ap-- pended claims are not to .be so limited for it is.

within the contemplation of this invention: touse a similar arrangement of levers and jacking. mechanism-in conjunction with a. wiper pressing assembly to press and clamp the lasting margins of other than welt shoes. For instance, it might beadvantageously employed for shaping theend of an upper on a cement type shoe by holding the marg'in' under heat against" the insole. until. the

cement has hardened; thus'avoiding the installation and removal of the toe wire or upstanding tacks. It mightalso be employed to attach an upper to an insole byheat activated adhesives applied to the lastingmargin" and insole edges.

Theinvention also contemplates a similar ar rangement forrpressing anupper to form a heel" seat;

Although'in constructing a machine in accord-- ance with th-is: invention it is recommended that a Wiper presser such as herein described be employed the invention is not to be construed as in any way limited to the use of this type of presser because there are various known types or de-' signs of pressing devices which may readily be adapted for suitable operation.

Having thus described my invention what I claim as new and desire to secure by Letters Patent of the United States is:

1. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of a shoe upper on a last comprising, in combination, a member for engaging the bottom of the shoe, a supporting member en ageable with the top of the shoe and movable hei htwise of the shoe toward the bottom engaging member, a U-shaped pressing member movable in a horizontal plane contiguously parallel to the bottom of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the bottom of the shoe in lasted position, a supporting guideway for the pressing member maintaining it a ainst hei htwise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for consecutively moving said supporting and pressing members, in sequence, first to position the bottom of the shoe against the bottom enga ing member, next to move horizontally said pressing member over the bottom of the shoe, and finally, to forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member.

2. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of a shoe upper on a last comprising, in combination, a holddown for engaging the bottom of the shoe, a supporting member engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the holddown, a U-shaped pressing member movable in a horizontal plane contiguously parallel to the bottom of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the bottom of the shoe in lasted position, a supporting guideway for the pressing member maintaining it'against heightwise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for consecutively moving said supporting member and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the bottom of the shoe against said holddown, next to move horizontally said pressing member over the bottom of the shoe, and finally, to forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member.

3. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of a shoe upper on a last comprising, in combination, a relatively yieldable holddown for engaging the bottom of the shoe, a supporting member engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the holddown, a U-shaped pressing member movable in a horizontal plane contiguously parallel to the bottom'of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the bottom of the shoe in lasted position, means for maintaining the pressing member aganst heightwise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for a consecutively moving said supporting member and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the bottom of the shoe against said holddown, next to move horizontally said pressing member over the bottom of the shoe, against said pressing member and yieldable holddown.

4. A machin'e for applying pressure to the lasted margin of a shoe upper on a last comprising, in combination, a holddown for engaging the insole of the shoe and adapted to contact and laterally support the rib of the insole, a toe support engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the holddown, a U-shaped pressing member movable in a horizontal plane contiguously parallel to the bottom of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position, means for maintaining the pressing member against heightwise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for consecutively moving said toe support and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the insole against said holddown, next to move horizontally said pressing member inwardly over the insole, and finally, to forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member to form a well defined feather line.

5. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of a shoe upper on a last comprising, in combination, a relatively yieldable holddown for engaging the insole of the shoe and adapted to contact and laterally support the rib of the insole, a toe support engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the holddown, a flexible U-shaped pressing member movable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe in a plane contiguously parallel to the shoe bottom and capable of conforming to the forepart of the shoe for-clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position, means for maintaining the pressing member against heightwise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for consecutively moving said toe support and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the insole against said holddown, next to move said pressing member lengthwise of the shoe into contact with the lasted margin at the toe point of the shoe, then to forcefully move the pressing member inwardly widthwise over the insole to Wipe said margin over the feather and clamp it against the rib of the insole, and finally, to forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member and yieldable holddown to form a well defined forepart feather line.

6. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of the upper of a welt shoe on a last comprising, in combination, a holddown for engaging the insole of the shoe, a toe support engageable with the top of the shoe and movable height-wise of the shoe toward the holddown, a flexible U-shaped pressing member movable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe in a plane contiguously parallel to the shoe bottom and capable of conforming to the forepart of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position, means for maintaining the pressing member against heightweise movement, and manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member for consecutively moving said toe support and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the insole against said holddown, next to move said pressing member lengthwise of the shoe into contact with the lasted margin at the toe point of the shoe, then to forcefully move the pressing member inwardly widthwise over the insole to wipe and clamp said margin over the feather and against the rib of the insole, and finally, to forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member to form a well defined forepart feather line.

7. A machine .iorflapplying pressure to the lasted margin of the upper ofa welt shoe on a I last comprising, in combination, a relatively :yieldable holddownfor engaging the insole oi the slide, a toe suport engageable with the top of the shoe and moveable heightwise of theshoe toward the holddown, a flexible U-shaped pressingxmember in a plane 'contiguously parallel to the shoe bottom and capable of conforming to rthe iorepart of the shoe for clampin the lasting margin of the upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position, means for main-- tainingthe pressing member against heightwise movement, and manually operated mechanism Iinclu'ding a-single progressively activated control n ember for consecutively moving said toe support and pressing member, in sequence, first to position the insole against said holddown, next to move said pressing member lengthwise oi the 7 shoe into contact with thelastingmargin at the toe point of the shoe, then to forcefully move the .pressing member inwardly-:widthwise :over

the insole to wipe and clamp :said margin over the leather and against .the rib of the insole,and

finally, to' forcefully jack the shoe against said pressing member'and yieldable holddown to form a well defined forepart feather line.

8. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin of the upper of a welt shoe on a last comprising, in combination, a member for :en-

gaging with the insole of the shoe, a supporting member engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the insole engaging member, a heated U-shaped I pressing member capable of conforming to the fi'orepart of theshoe and movable in a horizontal plane contiguously parallel to the bottom of the shoe for clamping the lasted margin of the upper over the forepart feather of the insole, a supporting guideway for the pressing member maintaining it against heightwise movement, and

manually operated mechanism including a single progressively activated control member .for consecutively moving said supporting member and heated pressing member, in sequence, first to position the insole against the insole engaging member, next to move horizontally said pressing member inwardly over the forepart feather of the insole to wipe and clamp said margin over the feather and insole, and finally, to iorceiully jack the shoe against said heated pressing memberto form a well defined forepart feather line.

9. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin about the end of asshoe on a last comprising, in combinatiomaholddown for engaging the bottom of the shoe, a supporting-member engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe toward the holddown, a U-shaped pressing member capable of conforming to the end of the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the bottom of the shoe in lasted position, and actuating means operable by a single control element for operating said members in timed relation to one another, first to impart to the supporting member an initial rapid movement of considerable. extent to position thebottom of the shoe against the holddown, then to impart movement to the pressing member to bring it into pressing contact with the lasted margin, and finally, to impart to said supporting member a slower movement of less extent having increased mechanical advantage to forcefully jack the shoe bottom against the pressing member, said means comprising a control lever-medially connected to a source of poweiyashoe jackingtlever terminally linkedto one end of the control lever and medially supported by two spacedeapart alternate fulcra,

fulcrum-selector means for increasing themechanical advantage of said jacking lever, a third lever linked to therother end of said control lever for operating the pressing member, and biasing means for restraining the operation of said' third lever until after the initial rapid movement of the supporting member.

10. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin about the end of a shoe on-,:a last comprising, incombination, a relatively yieldable holddown for engaging the-bottom of the shoe, a supporting memberengageable with the top of the shoe and-movable heightwise of wthe shoe toward the holddowma U-shaped pressing-member capable of conforming to the end oi-the shoe for clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the bottom of the e-hoe in lasted position, and actuating means operable by a single control element'for operating said members and holddown .intimed relation to one another, first-to impart to the supporting-member an initial rapid movement of considerableextent to position the bottom of the shoe against-said-holddown, then to impart movement to the pressing member to bring it into pressing contact with the lasted margin, and finally, to impart to said. supporting member and'holddown a slower movement of less extent having increased mechanical advantage to forcefully jack the shoe bottom against the pressing member, said means comprising a con- .trol lever medially connected to a'souroe of power,

a shoe jackinglever terminally linked to oneend of the controlTlever-and medially supported by two spaced-apart alternate fulcra, fulcrum-selector means for increasing the-mechanical advantage of said jacking lever, a third lever linked to the other end of said control lever for operating the part-of the shoe for clamping the lasting mar in of t e upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position. and actuating means operable by a sin le control element for operating said member, toe su port and hold own in timed relation to one another. first to im art to the toe sup ort an initial ra id movement of considerable extent to osition the insole a ainst said holddo n. then to im art movement to t e pr ssing member to bring it into ressing contact with the lasted mar in. and finallv. to impart to said toe su ort and holddown a slower movement of less extent ha ing increased mechanical advantage to forceful-1v jack the shoe bottom a ainst the pressing member, said means comprising a control lever medially connected to a source of power, a shoe jacking le er terminally linked to one end of the control lever and medially sunported b t o spaced-a art alternate fulcra. fulcrum-selector'means for increasing the mechanical advantage of said iacking lever, a third lever linked to the other end of said :control lever for operating the pressing member, biasing means for restraining the operation of said third lever until after the initial rapid movement of the toe support, and biasing means associated with said holddown for restraining the yielding thereof until after the pressing member has moved lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe.

12. A machine for applying pressure to the lasted margin about the toe of a welt shoe on a last comprising, in combination, an articulated heated pressing member movable lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe for first contacting and then clamping the lasting margin of the upper against the feather and rib of the insole in lasted position, a toe support engageable with the top of the shoe and movable heightwise of the shoe a predetermined distance to operatively position the shoe to receive said pressing member, a relatively yieldable holddown engageable with the bottom of the insole for limiting the initial movement of said toe support, and actuating means operable by a sin le control element for operating said. pressing member, toe support and holddown in timed relation to one another, first to impart to the toe support an initial rapid movement of considerable extent to position the insole against said holddown, then to impart movement to the heated pressing member to bring it into pressing contact with the lasted margin, and finally, to

impart to said toe support and holddown a slower 30 4 ,5

movement of less extent having increased mechanical advantage to forcefully jack the feather portion of the shoe bottom against said pressing member, said means comprising a control lever medially connected to a source of power, a shoe jacking lever terminally linked to one end of the control lever and medially supported by two spaced-apart alternate fulcra, fulcrum-selector means for increasing the mechanical advantage of said jacking lever, a third lever linked to the other end of said control lever for operating the pressing members, biasing means for restraining the operation of said third lever until after the initial rapid movement of the toe support, and biasing means associated with said holddown for restraining the yielding thereof until after the pressing member has moved lengthwise and widthwise of the shoe.

CHARLES K. WOODIVIAN.

REFERENCES CITED The following references are of record in the file of this patent:

UNITED STATES PATENTS Number Name Date 1,245,117 Merrick Oct. 30, 1917 2,224,146 Eastman Dec. 10, 1940 Eastman June 1'7, 1941 

